Dáil debates

Wednesday, 30 June 2021

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate

Local Authorities

9:22 am

Photo of Pádraig O'SullivanPádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State. This is not an attempt to rehash the boundary argument that we had four or five years ago. I welcome the Minister of State's comment that responsibility for settling outstanding issues resides with the two local authorities. At the same time, it is subject to the guidance and supervision of the oversight committee to ensure compliance with the implementation plan. The Minister of State has identified a number of problems, although they are described as a small number of outstanding practical issues. How many times has the oversight committee met subsequent to the boundary agreement? What was the outcome of those meetings? What advice was given to both local authorities? These issues have continued for a couple of years. As a representative in the area, I do not see any resolution to the outstanding problems. If it is open to the oversight committee to ensure compliance with the implementation plan, I ask the Minister of State to go back to the Minister to ensure the oversight committee reconvenes to resolve the outstanding issues. This is unfair for people.

The real motivation for me raising this is planning enforcement issues. People who lawfully carry out developments within the confines of planning legislation often live beside people who do not. Those people see the failure of Cork City Council and Cork County Council to deal with active, outstanding planning enforcement issues. That needs to be met head-on.

I do not care which authority is to resolve those outstanding planning enforcement issues. I just want them resolved. That is the least people in those areas can expect.

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